Seven ways that Tesla's Model S could change cars

We've already told you our initial reaction to Tesla's electric luxury car, the Model S. We loved it. Instead of just installing its novel electric powerplant into a luxury car and leaving it at that, Tesla was able to create several new ideas that we suspect will be emulated -- er, stolen -- by other automakers.

Hence, here's our top seven favorite Tesla Model S innovations:

The third row kid's seat. Lots of us have found memories of station wagons in the 1960s or 1970s in which the kids sat in a rear-facing third row. Model S is the kind of super-luxe vehicle that you wouldn't think would bring them back. But they did. And the two rear facing in the seats, due to a weight restriction, are meant only for kids.

The 17-inch center console display screen. It's more space than two Apple iPads put together, and you can operate just about any car function from it. You can arrange it however you want, such as having navigation on the top and radio stations on the bottom. Tesla has given drivers access to the full Internet from it, a function we doubt will stick around long when objections arise about driver distraction. For now, it's mighty handy. We also aren't sure of what the screen is like at night, when we think the glow would dominate the car.

The front trunk. One of the nice things about Tesla's power system is that the batteries can be configured in any number of ways. You can't do that with an engine. In Model S' case, the batteries are under the floor, which frees up the front of the car, where the engine would normally be, for something else. Tesla put a small front trunk there, which it affectionately calls the "frunk." It's only about 8 cubic feet of space, enough for a medium-size suitcase. But every bit of storage counts.

The remote glove compartment opener. It's quite a stretch for a driver to reach over and open a glove box, so Tesla made it remote control. The button is to the right of the center console screen, an easy reach from the driver's seat.

The hidden charging port. Tesla chief designer Franz von Holzhausen says he didn't want plugging the Model S in to recharge it to feel like a dirty, gas-station experience. Instead, he made it feel glamorous. The charge port isn't like the little door to hide a gas cap. It's hidden behind the left, rear taillight. When you open it, it doesn't look like the dirty, smudged mess. Rather, it has circle of LED lights around the port that tell the driver in an instant how much charging the car needs. The fewer lights lit, the more charging required. The fully-depleted Model S, rated at 265 miles of range in its longest range version, needs about eight hours to charge on a 240-volt charger.

The flush door handle. Until now, flush outdoor door handles were only seen on concept cars at auto show. Now they are reality -- extending when a hand brushes against them.

The no start button. On the Tesla, you don't have to press a button to start the car. You only need to press your foot against the brake pedal and shift into gear. You're ready to roll.

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About Chris Woodyard

Chris Woodyard is an auto writer for USA TODAY who covers all aspects of motoring. He revels in the exhaust note of a Maserati and the sharp creases of a Cadillac CTS. Chris strives to live a Porsche life on a Scion budget. More about Chris